Several, but sadly Ive been rather lax with my Shrine duties. Our Blue Lodge has Floor School now on Shrine Nights. Blue Lodge comes first in my priorities so I havent made any shrine functions this year.

I drive my little car in about a half dozen parades and make two or three unit meetings and one or two Ben Hur stated meetings per year. Just as I keep time allocated: Family, then work, then Masonry. I keep my Masonic time allocated: Blue Lodge, then Scottish Rite, then Shrine.

I am an inactive Shriner. I think the Shrine is terrific, their (our) philanthropy is truly the "world's greatest philanthropy". I have transported children to the hospitals, and taken the tours. The work that our people do with the children, is fantastic.

Several, but sadly Ive been rather lax with my Shrine duties. Our Blue Lodge has Floor School now on Shrine Nights. Blue Lodge comes first in my priorities so I havent made any shrine functions this year.

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I wish all Shriners thought this way . Our local Shrine's Temple meeting is on the same night of my Lodge's stated meeting and many of our Shriners head off to the Shrine instead of Blue Lodge . We have tried for years to get them to change their days to the end of the month when no Lodge's meet , but they refuse to budge .

Blue Lodge, Blue Lodge, Blue Lodge. I love shrinedom, too. It is claimed by many that Blue Lodge and and the Shrine are two separate organizations. Technically, I cannot argue the point. I have, however, witnessed bones of children and hearts of mothers healed at Shriner's Hospital. I have seen old men almost past going put on make-up and a clown suit and walk a mile in a parade like they were twenty years younger. As for myself, like the poet, Joseph Fort Newton, I, too, have "felt the thrill of an forgotten joy as I heard the laugh of a little child" at an open house at Shriners. Blue Lodge gives you dreams. The Shrine can make some of those dreams become a reality.

i dont think blue lodge is the awnser for every mason. heck i even get boared at regular stated meetings. in masonry there is a place for everyone. i have no problem with masons putting the shrine first. i just hope all active shriners support their local blue lodge when they can. this is where new blood comes from

Should masonic membership not be a requirement for induction into the shrine?

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Since you quoted me I will assume you directed this question at me although I don't see how it is relevant to my comment.

Yes and No would be my answer. Traditionally I would say yes because that is what it was created and designed to be - a Masonic appendant body. However there are no secrets that need to be protected, no profound truths, no esoteric work, in short nothing that NEED be protected from the profane. So I really don't see a NEED for it to be a Masons only institution. Obviously many shriners feel they have outgrown Freemasonry. As evidenced by the poster before me who said the blue lodge wasn't the answer for all Freemasons.

I would suggest that if the blue lodge isn't the answer for you then you got into Freemasonry for the wrong reasons because ultimately the Blue Lodge IS Freemasonry and everything else is just fluff.

I wouldn't be hurt either way although I would leave the Shrine if it became a non Masonic body. Maybe instead of the Shrine hurting the blue lodge as it does now it could help the blue lodge by opening it's doors to the profane thereby exposing them to Freemasonry and Freemasons. It could be a fertile recruiting ground for good men. Even though we don't recruit...

I commend those that put the Shrine second to the Blue Lodge. I don't think that is common enough[FLV][/FLV].

to call the shrine fluff or other bodies ruffles my feathers a little. i am a shriner and proud to be one. i never have put it in front of my blue lodge and only actualy do a handful of activities a year. there are people who work as hard as any blue lodge member to make the system a go. i am happy to see the work they do and appreciate it greatly. masonry is more than attending stated meetings or degrees. it is how we walk and act out our lives. some of the greatest masons i know dont attend lodge some do. everyone is entitled to an opinion. i would be more careful how i express it. we are brethren and you step on your brothers toes when you act express yourself like that.

Since you quoted me I will assume you directed this question at me although I don't see how it is relevant to my comment.
in my opinion you are wrong. Yes and No would be my answer. Traditionally I would say yes because that is what it was created and designed to be - a Masonic appendant body. However there are no secrets that need to be protected, no profound truths, no esoteric work, in short nothing that NEED be protected from the profane. So I really don't see a NEED for it to be a Masons only institution. Obviously many shriners feel they have outgrown Freemasonry. As evidenced by the poster before me who said the blue lodge wasn't the answer for all Freemasons.

I would suggest that if the blue lodge isn't the answer for you then you got into Freemasonry for the wrong reasons because ultimately the Blue Lodge IS Freemasonry and everything else is just fluff.

I wouldn't be hurt either way although I would leave the Shrine if it became a non Masonic body. Maybe instead of the Shrine hurting the blue lodge as it does now it could help the blue lodge by opening it's doors to the profane thereby exposing them to Freemasonry and Freemasons. It could be a fertile recruiting ground for good men. Even though we don't recruit...

I commend those that put the Shrine second to the Blue Lodge. I don't think that is common enough[FLV][/FLV].

to call the shrine fluff or other bodies ruffles my feathers a little. i am a shriner and proud to be one. i never have put it in front of my blue lodge and only actualy do a handful of activities a year. there are people who work as hard as any blue lodge member to make the system a go. i am happy to see the work they do and appreciate it greatly. masonry is more than attending stated meetings or degrees. it is how we walk and act out our lives. some of the greatest masons i know dont attend lodge some do. everyone is entitled to an opinion. i would be more careful how i express it. we are brethren and you step on your brothers toes when you act express yourself like that.

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I am also a Shriner. I am also proud to be one. I think what the Shrine does is very important and very admirable but I did not become a Mason to be a Shriner.

In my opinion any Mason who says that the blue lodge is not their cup of tea should never have been made a Mason in the first place.

I lead a pretty active work life. I don't get to Lodge or Shrine as much as I would like but when I have a choice between the two it's the blue lodge because whether anyone likes it or not it is the meat and potatoes of Freemasonry and everything else is dessert.

Sorry if this offends you but maybe that is part of the problem. The attitude these days that somehow all of the appendant bodies are as or more important than the blue lodge.

The shrine charities are serious and the participation in the shrine is to be commended but... it is fluff compared to Freemasonry and should be enjoyed as a secondary distraction not a primary one.

If your stated meetings and degrees are making you fall asleep then you need to do something to change that. Dismissing yourself to the shrine is not the answer.

[Since you quoted me I will assume you directed this question at me although I don't see how it is relevant to my comment./]

Yes and No would be my answer. Traditionally I would say yes because that is what it was created and designed to be - a Masonic appendant body. However there are no secrets that need to be protected, no profound truths, no esoteric work, in short nothing that NEED be protected from the profane. So I really don't see a NEED for it to be a Masons only institution. Obviously many shriners feel they have outgrown Freemasonry. As evidenced by the poster before me who said the blue lodge wasn't the answer for all Freemasons.

I would suggest that if the blue lodge isn't the answer for you then you got into Freemasonry for the wrong reasons because ultimately the Blue Lodge IS Freemasonry and everything else is just fluff.

I wouldn't be hurt either way although I would leave the Shrine if it became a non Masonic body. Maybe instead of the Shrine hurting the blue lodge as it does now it could help the blue lodge by opening it's doors to the profane thereby exposing them to Freemasonry and Freemasons. It could be a fertile recruiting ground for good men. Even though we don't recruit...

I commend those that put the Shrine second to the Blue Lodge. I don't think that is common enough[FLV][/FLV].

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My question is relevant simply because you must take the degrees before you can join the Shrine. I agree there is no masonic degree work in the Shrine. But, Shrinedom is full of Masonry. It is Masonry in action. Blue Lodge teaches us that we learn by degrees. We are to take what we learn in Blue Lodge and the masonic bodies and spread it to the rest of the world. Now, if it were left up to me, all Masons would be dedicated Blue Lodge Members because that is where some of the first seeds of Masonry are sown. And it is where my heart is. For others, Masonry is the Shrine, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Dermolay, Eastern Star, St. Judes, the Rotary, church, and on and on. Again, I love Blue Lodge, but Blue Lodge alone would make for a very shallow order.

i dont feel i joined for the wrong reasons. in my opinion and im not tooting my own horn i feel i do as much as i could possibly do at this time in my life for my lodge. in the past year ive conferred at least 10 degrees probably many more, given several lectures, taught 3 candidates and learned a funeral charge. all while raising kids and living a busy life of a coach. at this point all agree to disagree my brother.

I am also a Shriner. I am also proud to be one. I think what the Shrine does is very important and very admirable but I did not become a Mason to be a Shriner.

In my opinion any Mason who says that the blue lodge is not their cup of tea should never have been made a Mason in the first place.

I lead a pretty active work life. I don't get to Lodge or Shrine as much as I would like but when I have a choice between the two it's the blue lodge because whether anyone likes it or not it is the meat and potatoes of Freemasonry and everything else is dessert.

Sorry if this offends you but maybe that is part of the problem. The attitude these days that somehow all of the appendant bodies are as or more important than the blue lodge.

The shrine charities are serious and the participation in the shrine is to be commended but... it is fluff compared to Freemasonry and should be enjoyed as a secondary distraction not a primary one.

If your stated meetings and degrees are making you fall asleep then you need to do something to change that. Dismissing yourself to the shrine is not the answer.

I can agree with this. I am not saying there isn't a need and a very good purpose for appendant bodies but if the blue lodge withers and dies because of neglect where does that leave the appendant bodies? Fruit that is rotten at the core?

I am not trying to direct personal attacks at anyone who has posted and I hope that none of you feel that way. I am sure we all know about a half dozen brothers (at least) that we only saw in Lodge long enough for them to get the degrees out of the way and they have never returned. Travel to the nearest shrine and there they sit on a regular basis having a beer, at the monthly dance, the stag fish fry, lottery party. hmmm ...

Then there are members who never show up to lodge unless it is a master masons degree and they can pitch thier favorite appendant body to the guy who has been raised for a whole 15 minutes.

I was just iniated into the Shrine last Tuesday night. For many years , I have considered doing so. I have been so busy in all of the other branches of masonry, that I just never took the time. When it was announced a few months ago, that the Galveston Burn Center was to be re-opened, I decided that day to join, and become as active as my previous obligations will allow. Whether or not I become very active is contingent upon what the Shrine has to offer, I will at the very least be happy to help raise money for the hospitals ever chance I get.

I as well donate a monetary amount every month to the Galveston Shrine Hospital. I think very highly of what they stand for and countless children and families are better today due to them.

I DO NOT AGREE with the statement/opinion made calling them a fluff to masonry. Those comments are very shallow and you should re-apply the proper thoughts and meanings of what it is to be a FreeMason.

I as well donate a monetary amount every month to the Galveston Shrine Hospital. I think very highly of what they stand for and countless children and families are better today due to them.

I DO NOT AGREE with the statement/opinion made calling them a fluff to masonry. Those comments are very shallow and you should re-apply the proper thoughts and meanings of what it is to be a FreeMason.

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Thanks for the congrats, my brother. I do hope that you did not think I made the fluff statement. Everyone who knows me knows that I am a Mason first and foremost, however I am very busy in Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star and now to whatever time is left to the Shrine. I for one believe that there is a place in Masonry for all of us. I do understand the brothers statement on the shrine though. In past years,it seemed that the BL was just a means to an end. I do not see that as being so prevelant today.

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